The uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jon-un has been executed for “acts of treachery” against the state.
Chang Song-thaek was marched from a special party session by armed guards earlier this week in the most high profile purge of the current leader’s two-year rule.
Chang was widely considered to be a mentor to Kim, and has held many senior positions in the ruling party in the rogue nuclear state.
KCNA, the state media agency, said that Chang admitted to the charges of treachery at a military trial on Thursday, saying that he had abused his position to form a break-away faction against Kim Jong-un. He was executed shortly after the trial.
KCNA went on to say:
“Chang dreamed such a foolish dream that once he seizes power by a base method, his despicable true colours as ‘reformist’ known to the outside world would help his ‘new government’ get ‘recognised’ by foreign countries in a short span of time.”
China described the execution as an “internal matter”, whilst the US government has called his execution
“Another example of the extreme brutality of the North Korean regime”
South Korea have called the trial and execution part of a “reign of terror” by the North Korean leader, who is looking to consolidate power and purge competitors.
